What 2025 Taught Us—And Where 2026 Is Taking Us

About this episode

<p>What do foot massage parties, otters, and AI robot tutors have in common? To find out, tune into our special end-of-year conversation featuring the hosts from TED Talks Daily, TED Radio Hour, TED Business, and TED Tech! Elise Hu, Manoush Zomorodi, Modupe Akinola and Sherrell Dorsey got together to share the biggest ideas dominating their industry and the lesser-known insights they wished garnered more attention. From pushing back against AI advances to sharing the TED Talks that inspired them, Elise, Manoush, Modupe, and Sherrell reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026.</p><br><p>Conversations Mentioned</p><p>TED Radio Hour</p><ol><li>Ray Kurzweil, "<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/11/1255526955/ted-radio-hour-prophets-of-technology-part-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Could AI extend your life indefinitely? Futurist Ray Kurzweil thinks so</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Victor Riparbelli, “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/08/29/nx-s1-5422341/will-ai-avatars-eventually-teach-our-kids" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Will AI avatars eventually teach our kids?</a>”&nbsp;</li><li>Philip Johns, “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/03/21/g-s1-54922/singapores-otters-are-butting-heads-with-their-human-neighbors-can-they-coexist" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Singapore's otters are butting heads with their human neighbors. Can they coexist?</a>”&nbsp;</li><li>Restoring trust in government, "<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/31/nx-s1-5591221/move-fast-and-fix-democracy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Move fast...and fix democracy?</a>"&nbsp;</li></ol><p><br></p><p>TED Talks</p><ol><li>Sitoyo Lopokoiyit in conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz&nbsp;"<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sitoyo_lopokoiyit_and_jacqueline_novogratz_a_story_of_moral_imagination_and_bold_entrepreneurship" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A story of moral imagination and bold entrepreneurship</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Sarah Beery, "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sara_beery_how_ai_is_unearthing_hidden_scientific_knowledge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How AI is unearthing hidden scientific knowledge</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Scott Loarie (of iNaturalist),&nbsp;"<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/scott_loarie_the_surprising_power_of_your_nature_photos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The surprising power of your nature photos</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Daniel Zavala-Araiza, "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_zavala_araiza_the_best_way_to_lower_earth_s_temperature_fast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The best way to lower Earth’s temperature — fast</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Jennifer Pahlka, "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_pahlka_coding_a_better_government" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Coding a better government</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Pinky Cole (Slutty Vegan), "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/pinky_cole_how_i_make_vegan_food_sexy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How I make vegan food sexy</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Jason Huang,&nbsp;"<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_huang_the_high_wire_act_of_unlocking_clean_energy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The high-wire act of unlocking clean energy</a>"&nbsp;</li><li>Jennifer Doudna, "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_doudna_crispr_s_next_advance_is_bigger_than_you_think" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CRISPR's next advance is bigger than you think</a>"</li><li>Jonny Sun, "<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jonny_sun_you_are_not_alone_in_your_loneliness" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">You are not alone in your loneliness</a>"&nbsp;</li></ol><p><br></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>